Photo: ReutersAustralia says it will receive the first batches of a potential Covid-19 vaccine in January 2021, as the country's virus hotspot said the number of new daily infections has fallen to a 10-week low. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government had struck a manufacturing deal with CSL Ltd to produce an AstraZeneca and Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine, with 3.8 million doses to be delivered in January and February 2021. Known as AZD1222, the AstraZeneca vaccine is undergoing late-stage clinical trials in Britain, Brazil and South Africa. Australia in August said it would buy the AstraZeneca vaccine, but the deal appeared in some doubt in August after CSL said it was prioritising its own rival vaccine. The hurdle was overcome when Australia on Monday said it had also agreed to buy CSL's alternative Covid-19 vaccine if trials are successful.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 07, 2020 00:00 UTC